Terry Taylor

For other people named Terry Taylor, see Terry Taylor (disambiguation).
"The Red Rooster" redirects here. For the blues song, see Little Red Rooster. For other uses, see Red Rooster (disambiguation).
Terry Taylor
Birth name Paul Worden Taylor III
Born (1955-08-12) August 12, 1955[1]
Greenville, South Carolina, United States
Alma mater Guilford College
Spouse(s) Trudy Taylor (her death)
Children 2
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
  • Dr. Feelgood[1]
  • The Red Rooster[1]
  • Scary Terry Taylor[1]
  • Terry Taylor[1]
  • Terrance Taylor[1]
  • Taylor Made Man[1]
  • "Terrific" Terry Taylor
Billed height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Billed weight 225 lb (102 kg)
Billed from Vero Beach, Florida
Debut 1979[1]
Retired 2006

Paul Worden Taylor III (born August 12, 1955)[1] is an American former professional wrestler better known by his ring name Terry Taylor and for his time in National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation. From 2003 until 2011, Taylor was the Director of Talent Relations in Total Nonstop Action. He is currently signed to WWE, working as a trainer in its developmental territory NXT.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1979–1981)

Terry Taylor was a popular fan favorite for much of his early career in the Mid-South region, as well as the Mid-Atlantic in the 1980s. Taylor was originally selected to be part of The Fabulous Ones tag team with Stan Lane, but that role went to Florida wrestler, Steve Keirn.[2] Taylor then formed a tag team with Bobby Fulton called the Fantastic Ones. After they split up, Fulton teamed with Tommy Rogers to form The Fantastics.

National Wrestling Alliance (1981–1983)

On June 7, 1981, Taylor won the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship from Les Thornton at the Roanoke Civic Center, dropping it back to him in the return match thirteen days later.

Taylor made his way to Mid-South in January 1984 and feuded with the team of Nikolai Volkoff and Krusher Darsow. Darsow changed his name to Krusher Khruschev, and he and Taylor met in the finals of a May tournament to crown the first ever Mid-South TV champion, which Khruschev won. 45 days later, Taylor defeated Khruschev in New Orleans to begin his first of four TV title reigns.

Taylor feuded with "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel over the NWA National Heavyweight Championship in 1985.[3] On March 13 of that year, he defeated Ted DiBiase for the North American Heavyweight Championship, the Mid South region's top title at the time.[4]

Universal Wrestling Federation (1986–1988)

Moving back to the Mid-South region in 1986 (which had since broken away from the NWA and been renamed the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF), Taylor became one of the promotion's biggest stars and defeated Buzz Sawyer for the UWF Television Championship in May. He won the UWF Tag Team Championship with "Gentleman" Chris Adams in early 1987, before breaking up their "Dream Team" to begin a heated rivalry. After Jim Crockett Promotions took over the UWF later that year, Taylor (then the UWF Television Champion) initiated a dispute with Nikita Koloff over the NWA World Television Championship by stealing Koloff's belt, which led to a unification match of the two titles at Starrcade 1987, which Taylor would lose before abruptly leaving the promotion.[5]

World Class Championship Wrestling (1988)

In early 1988, Taylor debuted in World Class Championship Wrestling, where he and Adams continued their feud until early June. Taylor won the Texas Heavyweight Championship from Matt Borne and defended it against Adams, Kevin Von Erich, and others. Terry also held the tag team title with Iceman King Parsons for a short time. Taylor eventually departed WCCW.

World Wrestling Federation (1988–1990)

In 1988, Taylor signed with the World Wrestling Federation. He made his initial debut in a house show defeat to Tito Santana on July 10, 1988 in Las Vegas, NV. Three days later he made his televised debut as babyface Scary Terry Taylor, he teamed with Sam Houston against The Conquistadors in his television debut on the August 1, 1988 airing of Prime Time Wrestling. After Houston was pinned, Taylor got on the mic and berated him for losing the match, before attacking him and turning heel.[6] Taylor soon acquired Bobby "The Brain" Heenan as his manager and was rebranded "The Red Rooster", a gimmick which saw him don red tights and ring coat and, later as a babyface, style his hair like a rooster's comb and strut like a rooster.[7] Early in his Red Rooster stint, the heel Taylor was portrayed as a novice wrestler who could not navigate his way through matches without constant instructions from Heenan. The Rooster made his pay-per-view debut in the main event of Survivor Series '88, where he was the first wrestler eliminated from the match.[8]

On the January 7, 1989 episode of Saturday Night's Main Event, the Rooster lost a match to Tito Santana due to being distracted by an argument with Heenan. Following the loss, Heenan slapped Taylor. Taylor, tired of Heenan's demeaning style of coaching, turned against his manager and attacked him.[7] He became a face as a result, though he retained the Red Rooster gimmick.[7] Heenan feigned wanting to make amends with Taylor on Prime Time Wrestling, but it was a set-up for Taylor to be ambushed by Heenan's new protege, long-time enhancement talent Steve Lombardi, who Heenan reinvented as The Brooklyn Brawler.[7] The two feuded, leading to the Rooster defeating the Brawler on the March 11, 1989 episode of Saturday Night's Main Event and then defeating Heenan in a 30-second squash at WrestleMania V.[9][10] Taylor would then primarily be used to put over other talent. While he still earned victories against enhancement talent, he was usually on the losing end against established stars. He worked a program with Mr. Perfect, losing to him at SummerSlam '89 and again on the November 25, 1989 episode of Saturday Night's Main Event.[11][12] At Survivor Series '89, he was part of Dusty Rhodes's "Dream Team." Though Taylor was eliminated from the match, the Dream Team was victorious.[13] The Rooster's last pay-per-view appearance was as a participant in the 1990 Royal Rumble match (replacing The Widow Maker), where he lasted only two minutes before being eliminated by André the Giant.[14] Taylor left the Federation in June 1990.[7]

World Championship Wrestling (1990–1992)

Taylor signed with World Championship Wrestling in two months later, making his return in a win by disqualification over "Mean" Mark Callous.[15] He debuted as "Terry Taylor" and unsuccessfully challenged Arn Anderson for the WCW World Television Championship on several occasions, with most of the matches ending in time-limit draws.[16] Taylor then began a short feud with Michael Wallstreet, which ended abruptly after Wallstreet jumped to the WWF. Taylor took Wallstreet's place in The York Foundation and was renamed Terrence Taylor (It was customary for York Foundation members to use formalized versions of their first names and wear suits as part of the "business" gimmick).[16] He feuded with Tom Zenk, Dustin Rhodes and Bobby Eaton, and won the WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Championships with Richard Morton and Thomas Rich.[16] Taylor was the senior wrestling member of the York Foundation throughout its existence. For a time in late 1991-early 1992, Taylor teased a face turn by arguing with manager Alexandra York and the rest of the group.[16] After the York Foundation disbanded, Taylor (billed as 'The Taylor Made Man') remained heel and formed a tag team with Greg Valentine in 1992.[16] They held the WCW United States Tag Team Championship for three months.[16]

Return to WWF (1992–1993)

On September 21, 1992 Taylor returned to the WWF as "Terrific Terry Taylor", defeating Jim Brunzell at a WWF Superstars taping in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[17] He continued wrestling as a heel and was undefeated for his first month, gaining a series of house show victories over Jim Powers. In November he began a house show program with Max Moon, followed a month later with a series against Lance Cassidy.[18] Taylor was primarily used to put over other talent.[17] He appeared in the 1993 Royal Rumble match, but was eliminated in 24 seconds by Ted DiBiase.[19] Taylor then became a broadcaster, wrestling his last match on the May 22, 1993 edition of WWF Mania against Tatanka. Taylor would leave the company in August 1993.

Second return in WCW (1994)

Taylor returned to WCW again in January 1994, teaming with Erik Watts in a televised loss to Pretty Wonderful on WCW Saturday Night.[20] Wrestling as a face, Taylor began a program with "Diamond" Dallas Page and defeated him at SuperBrawl IV on February 20. As in the WWF, Taylor began commentary work and teamed with Tony Schiavone on play-by-play on The Power Hour. After wrestling Honky Tonk Man and Tex Slazenger during the spring and summer, Taylor ended his run with three straight victories over Jean Paul Levesque in an August house show tour of Texas.

American Wrestling Federation (1994)

Taylor became an announcer for the American Wrestling Federation (AWF) in 1994. A fan of wrestling announcer Gordon Solie,[21] Taylor would often use Solie's famous phrases, pronouncing a suplex as a "soo-play" and a clothesline as a "lariat."

Third return to WCW (1994–1998)

Taylor spent several years in WCW working backstage, as a road agent and a writer. Along with Annette Yother, Craig Leathers, Eric Bischoff and Kevin Sullivan, he wrote content for Nitro and WCW pay-per-views. He made his return to the ring on April 20, 1996 in Little Rock, AR when he defeated Steve Regal[22] and would occasionally wrestle on house shows over the next two and a half years. His last match came on September 23, 1998 when he faced Steve McMichael in Utica, NY.[23]

Third return to WWF (1998–1999)

Taylor returned to the WWF in 1998, doing interviews backstage. As with WCW, he would occasionally wrestle on live events. His first match would be against Kurt Angle on May 15, 1999 in Baltimore, MD. He defeated Tom Prichard at the 2nd Annual Brian Pillman Memorial Show on May 19. His final match was against Joey Abs on September 23, 1999.[24]

Fourth return to WCW (1999–2001)

After conducting backstage interviews for a year in the WWF, Taylor returned to WCW yet again. He appeared in a backstage segment with Kimberly on Monday Nitro on November 15, 1999. During this run in WCW, Taylor co-hosted and provided commentary for WCW Saturday Night with Larry Zbyszko. He remained with the company until WWF bought it out in March 2001.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2003–2011)

Taylor began working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2003. Prior to becoming Head of Talent Relations, he also worked as a road agent, trainer, and interviewer. On May 20, 2011, Taylor was fired from the promotion.[25]

Fourth return to WWE (2012–present)

In 2012, Taylor was re-signed by WWE to work as a trainer in its developmental territory NXT.

Personal life

On April 12, 2004, Taylor had three vertebrae in his neck fused together. Two years later, on April 3, 2006, Taylor underwent a three-hour cervical fusion surgery in which his sixth and seventh vertebrae were joined. Following the second operation, Taylor announced his retirement from the ring.[26]

Taylor is a born-again Christian[27] and has appeared on some of the wrestling and religion shows that Ted DiBiase produces.[26] Taylor played college football at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC.

Taylor has two sons. His wife Trudy died of cancer on July 14, 2011.[28]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

1The Mid-Atlantic promotion in which Taylor and Steiner won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship is not the same promotion that was once owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. and sold to Ted Turner in 1988. That promotion went on to be renamed World Championship Wrestling and was sold to World Wrestling Entertainment in 2001. This current promotion, however, operates within the same region as the original and uses some of the same regional championships, primarily the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight and Tag Team Championships.[52]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Terry Taylor Profile". Online World Of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  2. ↑ Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson (2005). "The Territorial Era (Mid-1960s to mid-1980s): The Fabulous Ones". The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. ECW Press. pp. 182–185. ISBN 978-1-5502-2683-6.
  3. ↑ Terry Taylor's matches with Buddy Landell, from WrestlingData.com
  4. ↑ NWA North American Heavyweight title history, from WrestlingData.com
  5. ↑ "Starrcade 1987 results/info". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  6. ↑ "WWF 1988 results". The History of WWE. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Cawthon, Graham (2013). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 1: WWF 1963 - 1989. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 1492825972.
  8. ↑ "WWF Survivor Series 1988 results/info". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  9. ↑ "WWF Saturday Night's Main Event #20 results/info". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  10. ↑ "WWF WrestleMania V results/info". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  11. ↑ "WWF SummerSlam 1989 results/info". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  12. ↑ "WWF Saturday Night's Main Event #24 results/info". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  13. ↑ "WWF Survivor Series 1989 results/info". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  14. ↑ "WWF Royal Rumble 1990 Entrance & Elimination Information". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  15. ↑ http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw90.htm
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cawthon, Graham (2014). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 4: World Championship Wrestling 1989-1994. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 1499656343.
  17. 1 2 Cawthon, Graham (2013). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 2: WWF 1990 - 1999. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ASIN B00RWUNSRS.
  18. ↑ http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/92.htm
  19. ↑ "WWF Royal Rumble 1993 Entrance & Elimination Information". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  20. ↑ http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw94.htm
  21. ↑ Terry Taylor Bio, http://www.zoominfo.com
  22. ↑ http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw97.htm
  23. ↑ http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw98.htm
  24. ↑ http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/99.htm
  25. ↑ Caldwell, James (2011-05-20). "TNA News: Sources say VP of talent relations fired Friday, replaced by new team including former WWE executive". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  26. 1 2 Terry Taylor bio, www.wwfchamps.com
  27. ↑ Dibiase, Ted (2008). Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man. World Wrestling Entertainment. p. 231. ISBN 141655890X.
  28. ↑ Gerweck, Steve (2011-07-15). "Wife of Terry Taylor passes away". WrestleView. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  29. ↑ Shields, Brian and Kevin Sullivan (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK/BradyGAMES. p. 303. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0. In 1992 he returned to the WWF as "Terrific" Terry Taylor and used a new move to put away opponents, the Gutwrench Sit-out Powerbomb.
  30. ↑ BCW Can-Am Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  31. ↑ "News & Rumours". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  32. ↑ NWA Central States Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  33. ↑ NWA Central States Television Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  34. ↑ NWA/AWA Southern Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  35. ↑ NWA Mid-America/AWA Southern Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  36. ↑ CWA International Heavyweight Title (Memphis) history At wrestling-titles.com
  37. ↑ NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  38. ↑ NWA National Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  39. ↑ NWA National Television Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  40. ↑ NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  41. ↑ NWA/WCW United States Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  42. ↑ WCW World 6-Man Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  43. ↑ North American Heavyweight Title (Mid-South) history At wrestling-titles.com
  44. ↑ Mid-South Television Ttile history At wrestling-titles.com
  45. ↑ UWF World Tag Team Title (Mid-South) history At wrestling-titles.com
  46. ↑ UWF World Television Title (Mid-South) history At wrestling-titles.com
  47. ↑ NWA North American Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  48. ↑ NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  49. ↑ NWA Southeastern Television Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  50. ↑ Texas Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  51. ↑ WCWA World Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  52. ↑ N.W.A. Mid-Atlantic (after 1990s)

External links

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